Meet Sarah Daye

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Daye a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

I’ve gratefully been exposed to the arts very young and sports which allowed me to express myself and build my confidence early on with encouragement thankfully from my parents enrolling me. Learning the importance of hard work, discipline, and teamwork early on.

I started training in ballet, jazz, and a little tap when I was a wee little thang, starting at the tender age of three. I’ve been entertaining ever since literally. I used to put on shows for my parents and their friends and they quickly knew that I was definitely in my element dancing and singing. It was clear that it was my calling.

Pretty quickly, however, I embraced dance wholeheartedly and it became my first passion and profession. I started very young doing recitals and talent shows which were great expressive outlets to help in building my confidence in my craft and my self-esteem from a young age.

I always sang with my dad accompanying him while he sang and played guitar for us, serenading us to sleep as well. But I never really thought much about it. It’s just something we did growing up. We went camping as a family and rented cottages in Wasaga Beach. Which is a few hours outside of Toronto, Canada where I’m from originally.

From day one, music was always around me. We would roast marshmallows and sing around campfires. We’d do little jam sessions with my dad any chance we had. It was incredibly inspiring and healing.

I still get emotional when sharing music with him because It is truly a gift he blessed me with that kept me sane coming up. Especially during the hard times when my parents were split up and going through a divorce. My mother was also an alcoholic who was addicted to prescription drugs over time, which she struggled with from the pain and abuse she endured that she sadly never really healed from. So music and dance were my escape and my way of healing and dealing. I threw myself into it with my everything. It was the one thing that made me truly happy. And it took me away from the reality I faced daily at home which was a lot to handle so young.

I loved being able to escape into the music and become characters outside of myself. It allowed me to dream of a different life where I was at peace and free. Thankfully, I learned early on how to let go and express those emotions on stage which brought me so much passion, release, confidence, peace, and uplifting.

The stage became home and my comfort zone. To this day, the stage is where I fly free, and can just be me authentically. I do feel blessed to have a natural confidence and strength that I feel I was born with as well. I of course developed some of my skills over many years. I don’t take that for granted at all.

Training at many schools coming up influenced me too majorly. Studying with the George Brown College dance program, The Jewish community center in North York, to several local dance schools in and outside of Toronto helped built my overall confidence and self-confidence over time.

Winning the most improved dancer award in the first year I attended “The Academy of Dance” was super encouraging after moving in with my dad a few years out of town. There I focused on dance and playing basketball on the top championship teams. I was always busy with sports and the arts. Thanks to my dear dad. He always encouraged and pushed me to keep busy.

Later into my twenties, I auditioned and was accepted to study at one of Toronto’s top private musical theatre colleges “Randolph School of the Performing Arts” after moving on my own in downtown Toronto to pursue my dance career first. I had a real go-getter attitude. And after making the cut, I got to train in all three disciplines singing, dancing, and acting which was a part of their triple theatre program that took my talent to another level gaining even more confidence surrounded by so much talent, and some of Canada’s top professors and casting directors who gave me such support, wisdom, advise and the encouragement that was life-changing. They quickly encouraged me to focus on my voice which shocked me. But I started making my classmates emotional and realized I had more talent there than I ever knew, nurtured, or believed.

My professor who was one of the biggest casting directors in Canada at the time, called me one day and invited me surprisingly to audition for the musical “We Will Rock You”. I made it to the second call back, until they canceled the show in Toronto sadly. The funny thing is, my teacher was one of the ones who used to tell me I couldn’t choose the music that I did in class because I could never play a black role or sing black music. And that’s exactly what this audition was!

I loved r&b and Soul music, and I was raised with it in a predominantly black and brown neighborhood, mostly East and West Indian. We had r&b, hip hop, reggae, calypso, and Punjab blasting off the balconies. So obviously it is what came most naturally to me having been raised as I did, and where I did. Not to mention what my parents played daily.

I arrived to the audition and I was the only Caucasian singer there. I was honestly used to that environment anyway, so it wasn’t a big deal to me. I was just kinda shocked that that same teacher of mine sent me to audition for the exact role that she said I could never play. And I talk about it because I encourage everyone to be who they are and do what feels good, what feels right, and what fills their heart. Don’t listen to opinions and criticisms or allow anyone to turn you away from your true passion and or desires. I saw too many affected by what some teachers said. And they gave up and regret it. Please don’t let anyone rain on your parade or steal your dream.

That music spoke to my soul and is who I am. Having been raised singing with my Dad, listening to his amazing Motown collection, and being surrounded by the culture for most of my life growing up. It all influenced me to sing from a very authentic place. And so today that’s what I do completely. I proved her wrong, and anyone who ever questioned me along the way. Now, I have successfully toured around the world and fronted many awesome bands Including my own singing Pop, R&b, Soul, Funk, Reggae, Jazz, and my original music working with legends and the best in the industry.

I related to those characters and that music with such deep emotion because I was also being raised by a few black women who looked after me in my building from time to time braiding my hair, feeding me their yummy culturally cooked food, and influencing me hugely. It was a reflection of what I saw and lived coming up as a young girl in Rexdale and Jane and Finch that made me feel so at home and drawn to those characters. That is my truth. No one has lived in my shoes.

It’s just funny to me looking back because that same casting director went against her own words and ended up inviting me to audition for the lead role anyway. I felt so encouraged at that moment that I had stood up for what I knew to be right and true to myself. And eventually, I was blessed and doors opened. Even though the show was canceled. The fact that I got called back was enough to set my soul free and it encouraged me even more to do me. A great lesson and example I share now with the kids that I teach.

Into my second year at Randolph, I was invited to audition for what was known as Toronto’s first professional Hip-hop dance company and agency called “Dodat”. Dodat was getting major buzz in the streets and the Toronto music and dance Industry. I happily had a successful audition and became a part of the company juggling dancing four hours a day at college and doing night rehearsals with Dodat as well in the parking lots where we first started, before we got an actual studio to work in. Talk about grassroots. But it was pretty wicked.

We started doing a lot of live shows in Toronto clubs, and theme parks, featuring in several music videos for Canadian award-winning artists, as well as upcoming acts, and a few International greats such as Wyclef which was directed by Director X. Another Toronto native I had the great pleasure to work with a few times. The journey built me up. And being from Toronto you gotta have confidence because there is a lot of incredible talent and competition.

I’m grateful for the years working with our choreographer “Luther Brown” who’s now not surprisingly working with everyone from Janet to Justine, Gwen Staffani, “So you think you can Dance” judge & all the awards shows including Coachella. Proud! Thankfully he pushed us beyond our comfort zones and played hardball with us, teaching us so much about our staging, lines, and discipline to be the best we could be, bringing the greatest out of each one of us personally. He set the bar high. And It most definitely helped me move forward once I knew I was meant to be upfront center stage as well.

It became clear after some years that I was destined for more and I suddenly saw myself leading. I didn’t know in what capacity, but it was a sudden craving.

All those years of performance prepared me to take the leap and become the artist I am today, and the lead singer-songwriter that has toured now Internationally gracing the largest of stages for over 40.000 peeps.

I’ll never forget being encouraged by my professors in college, that If I focused on my voice and worked hard, I could get lead principal roles as a singer that could dance and act. From then on, I took their advice. I knew they had the wisdom and experience to know better than I did. So I started booking shows In Toronto for myself, and the rest is history.

I got super inspired by many Incredibly talented singers I was surrounded by as well and decided to apply for a grant to record my first original music project with a few popular award-winning producers ‘PerryAlexander’ at the time. Out of a thousand recipients, I was awarded my first demo grant from ‘Factor Canada’, which ended up helping me successfully book overseas for years touring independently performing my original music and favorites on literally hundreds of stages. Three months turned into five years through five countries building great momentum, press, and a great professional reputation.

I made the most money I’ve ever made in USD, doing what I love with the freedom to produce my shows and sing my original music. I was in heaven living like a princess stacking my money and traveling to some of the most beautiful countries while creating a plan to expand and get to that next level eventually, which is how I ended up here today in LA to work with greats.

A Canadian in Cali that loves the mountains, the Ocean, and the business. I knew I had to figure out how to stay once I came. And little did I know that all my tour dates overseas successfully over the years would be what helped me with my extraordinary artist visa to base in LA.

Thankfully, over time I’ve gotten greater and greater opportunities that have kept me encouraged and pushing. One career highlight that sticks out was the amazing vocal sessions with the incredible Kevin Dorsey who worked with Micheal Jackson for decades, and producer-songwriter and pianist to the stars Kevin Flournoy who hired me to do the session in the same studio at Westlake where MJ recorded “Thriller”. Those days were very special in the company of greats with such a history working with artists like Lamont Dozier Jr, the son of Motown hit songwriter Lamont Dozier of ‘Dozier Holland Dozier ‘ who wrote fifty-four Motown hits Including Marvin Gaye’s “Aint Nothing like the real thing” which I got to sing with my brother ‘Lamont Dozier Jr’ while co-hosting alongside Kevin Flournoy for his KFlow Show episode apart of the Kflow Show band. It’s been quite awesome doing numerous episodes over the years.

Another opportunity that I can’t forget is recording and being a part of the Grammy Nominated Soundtrack “Sheet Music” The Diary of a Songwriter which we recorded at the famous Henson studios a few months with a multitalented cast hand-picked by five-time Grammy producer of Pharrell, Rihanna, Lady Gaga. The project went on for months and we met Randy Jackson in the studio as well as Justine Timberlake during the process. Such memorable moments remind you that you are on the right path and doing the right thing. It was a bonus having a four-page spread in the book and opening at our book launch at Avalon in Hollywood with Janelle Monae’s group St Beauty.

Now having achieved three extraordinary artist visas over a nine-year period to live and work in the US. I am super excited to be creating some of my best work yet with some serious legendary producer songwriters who are also world-class musicians; Including Chuckii Booker, Narada Micheal Walden, Stacey Lamont Sydnor, and Kevin Flournoy who have collectively worked with the best in the industry literally. (From The Jackson’s, Janet, Aretha, Barry White, Chaka Khan, Anita, Lalah Hathaway, TLC, Bette Midler, etc..)

Who knew that singing would end up being what has taken me this far? God opens doors if you stay consistent, work hard, dream big, keep the faith, and never give up. I am an example of that.

All the above has encouraged me as I continuously grow and gain next-level opportunities surrounded by the best in the Industry, which continues to lift me. From featuring headlining International festivals with my band to opening for major celebrities on shows I’ve done such as; The Jamie Foxx show “Foxxhole”, The R&B Live Hollywood stages over the years, as a fan favorite opening for many celebrities, as well as fronting “The Kevin Eubanks Band” in Vegas two years in a row @ TMobile Arena where Jlo had just finished her “It’s my party” tour. It encourages you that you are on the right path when things like this align. I always say, just do it! Keep going.

Last but not least working with the amazing “Chuckii Booker” On the new single that we wrote and created together in LA, has been such an honor and pleasure. I am making the music of my dreams which is most encouraging. Stay tuned for our new single “Catch Me” (If I Fall) that’s coming out soon. I’m planning to release it this summer with an incredible video that’s currently in the plans.

One thing my journey of the Daye has taught me is to always stay READY! It’s surreal that at the same time, Chuckii is doing Stevie’s album, Lionel Richie’s new album, his own, and working with me. It’s like a full circle moment for real. Some of my absolute favorites I was raised listening to. Not to mention, Chuckii was playing at the very first concert my dad took me to, which was Barry White. That day changed my life. All these years later, we connect & write. And I find out that Barry was Chuckii’s Godfather who practically raised him on the road. It goes deep. God’s alignment and timing are so incredibly amazing.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’ve shared a lot about my journey already, and I have to say that in the last five years, I’ve been happy to see some major fruits of my labor coming to fruition on a whole other level. I’ve had some wonderful opportunities to work with some of the baddest cats in the music Industry. I’ve also featured my show “Sexy Soul Sessions with Sarah Daye” with my Daye Dream Team band in and around LA, and Vegas at many of the top live music venues over the years since I have been based in LA. Including Planet Hollywood, The Beverly Hills Hotel at Club Nineteen 12, Cresent Hotel, Cafe Was which was an amazing live music venue off Vine close to where ‘Cafe Entourage was in Hollywood where I got the attention of, and Interviewed by TMZ.

My longest feature residency was over six years successfully at the award-winning ‘Seventy7Lounge’ in Culver City with many dates and a shorter residency at their sister venue Seventy7North as well.

This same show has gained the attention of many legendary producers and musicians whom I have had come sit in and feature throughout the years. Including some of the best up-and-coming singers and greats like ‘Andra Day’ who came to support and sang with some of my other talented sister friends, I’ve featured.

I’ve been blessed to be a part of some incredible productions singing with greats such as the Incredible Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe winner “Andra Day” for her ‘Cheers to the Fall’ tour. Performing at the LA Greek Theatre opening for the incredible “Lenny Kravitz”. As well as featuring in the book and Grammy Nominated soundtrack “Sheet Music” The Diary of a Songwriter which I published in and sang on and recorded at the famous Jim “Henson Studios in Hollywood”.

A few other highlights during my musical journey in LA have been singing at the Nokia theatre to a sold-out crowd, with Armenian superstar Arman Hovhannisyan receiving standing ovations, and singing for many years at several churches in and around LA. I’ve been a part of several praise teams singing Alto, and Soprano, as well as leads. That has been a whole other different experience from growing up in Canada. Although I explored many churches coming up, from Baptist to Pentecostal, African Methodist to Catholic. I do love to praise, worship and sing black gospel music. It’s always touched my spirit and it’s been a great musical challenge and discipline along the way for my ears, range, and my memory.

Thankfully after all the tours, and years of working on my voice and my craft. I’ve developed a great vocal range and versatility to sing, write and perform many styles of music. I love to collaborate and create with different producers and songwriters Internationally in a variety of genres. Whatever speaks to my soul. And of course when the business is right too.

I am happily open and working with new clients locally and overseas.

I work from my sailboat studio aboard “Lady Daye” in Marina del rey. Apart of my Cali Daye dream. I record sessions when needed to send vocals locally and Internationally. For instance, my soulful house single “Love Don’t Lie” I created with two producers from Italy and the UK. I wrote and recorded it here in LA writing it in my boat and then putting down a lead final vocal with my brother Jason Taylor who helped me engineer and co-arrange the vocals too. I sent the finished vocals to them overseas collaborating 100% online virtually. They mixed and mastered the song, and shopped it. And to our excitement, we got great interest from over 25 labels. We ended up signing it to an International label out of London ‘Quantize Recordings’, and it charted on Traxsource in several different categories in the top #1 position, the 3rd, 5th, and the 10th position featuring on The “Quantize Miami Sampler 2020”, Dj Spens label.

Coming from Toronto, Canada I came up with a super diverse catalog of music. We have some of the best DJs, dance, and house music scene’s that I’ve ever seen in all my travels Internationally.

Currently, I am focused on recording, writing, collaborating with greats, and releasing my new music while pitching my work for television and commercial placement opportunities, sync deals, etc. All while booking shows and featuring promoting my originals that are coming out on my EP produced by Grammy Award-winning drummer, and producer who’s also my musical director. The one and only “Stacey Lamont Sydnor”.

Stay tuned! It’s been a labor of love and a road to completion between my other projects and my last visa renewal process. Not to mention Covid.. It’s coming! Timing is everything.

I will be pushing my new singles and selling my original show which will include the few new Daye hits incorporated.

I enjoy teaching part-time as well, which I’ve been doing for years now at Culver City middle school successfully giving back to the community and sharing my decades of experience with the youth in my Singing, performance, and presentation class that I created. I enjoy offering one on one private vocal coaching and artist development assisting new upcoming artists with their overall artistry and vocal development. A great passion I have acquired. Sharing my gift and helping others elevate.

I’m excited to feature my new music with my band on many more stages locally and Internationally for upcoming festivals, television and film spots, live events, openings for more celebrity events, and you name it. I see the opportunities being endless. This is my year, 2023 baby!

The new single I created with the great “Chuckii Booker” is truly a beautiful piece of work that I am so proud of and I’m excited to share it. He is completing his new album as I speak. It’s all so incredibly thrilling and humbling. “Catch Me (If I Fall)” is one of my best songs yet. The production is so incredibly sweet. I can’t wait for you all to hear it. It’s been our labor of love. I’m so thankful we connected creatively. And he allowed me to do my thing writing. Excited to do three more planned.

Currently, I am also completing a new song with the fabulous “Narada Micheal Walden” who produced Whitney. She is still one of my biggest inspirations and influences since I was a kid. She is who I looked up to. And for real, Narada is a musical beast. The process is always interesting working with different creative greats. I can’t wait to see how this one comes out. I’m thankful and humbled.

My newest single which is due to release first is most appropriate in these times. It is called “Alright”. I wrote it with my talented brother “William Lee” who worked with Leonna Lewis among many other fabulous artists. He is one of my favorite writing partners that I have some great songs with. All of which you will come to know very soon.

Those of you who have been following me and my live shows, most definitely know our “Magic Carpet Ride” and my Christmas song “85@Christmas” that we created together. Those few everyone loves and raves about no matter where I go. We have a great vibe and write and create super well together. A few of them are also fan favorites. Stay tuned! I’ve got lots In store for you this 2023. It’s DAYETIME baby! Time to release. I’m just getting started really. My BEST is yet to come!

I’ am in it to win it. Thankfully still here and strong like a bull. I’m on God’s time!

Thanks for all the support thus far dreamers. Please visit my site SarahDaye.com where I’ll also be selling new merchandise, advertising my upcoming shows, and sharing new music you can buy.

As of now you can purchase and stream a variety of the music that I’ve done over the years and add me to your playlists. Get ready for that next-level Daye vibe. I’m ready to go. Come along for the ride. I’m taking my Daye dreamers Aka my Daye love tribe!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Discipline and patience to stick with something. One must train and practice your craft over and over again. Which can be frustrating sometimes but is necessary to be great. And, the tenacity to not give up and push through even in the hard times.

Above all, having faith and confidence in yourself is key to knowing that your hard work will pay off eventually. It’s all a part of the journey. Even failing! You just gotta get up and get after it again and again. Until you get it right and see the results and rewards coming. Looking back at where you started from always helps tremendously.

And one hott topic is the importance of building relationships. You never know when you might need someone in the future for support. Prime examples were my several visas to live and work in the US.

I needed many Grammy award-winning producers to write support letters for me that I am an extraordinary Singer, songwriter, and entertainer. If I didn’t build those relations I did over the years, get in touch and even work with some of the folks, approaching them with the confidence to go after what I wanted and needed. Then I wouldn’t have had them accessible to me when needed to follow through and get their support.

I encourage everyone in any field to find a mentor or two even, if you can. Who is doing what you wanna do successfully? Do not be afraid to ask for guidance and help along the way. Stay humble to learn and gain all the wisdom you can. It’s taken me a long way. And still, I am so happy to continually be learning from my peers and elders.

We can always learn more. That’s the beauty!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

At the moment I am looking to collaborate with fellow creatives on music and content creation. As well as exploring new management.

I am excited this year to work and collab with more talented warrior women that are out there and down to connect, create and build too. Dope Videographers, Cinematographers, and directors for future video shoots needed for the upcoming new music releases.

I have a Tv show Idea that I want to develop further with the right person/team to pitch it. Overall I love to work with professionals who are open to creating and building. Including creative photographers for my album and single covers, online opportunities, publications, and magazine features like this that I do.

I am available as a vocalist for hire, and to write for and with artists and producers as well when time and schedules permit.

I am currently taking on a few new clients to guide them in their artist development, and vocal coaching needs. Those who plan on coming to LA to create and are interested in some support. I have an incredible network of producers, musicians, and songwriters to align sessions and future musical opportunities. Get at me; BookingSarahDaye@gmail.com

For more please visit: SarahDaye.com

All my social links are on my site, as well as an extensive variety of all my works. My original music, video, live, press, pics, and more..

I look forward to hearing from many of you. Thanks in advance for your support and Interest. And if you haven’t yet, please join my mailing list.

Sarah Daye

Contact Info:


Image Credits:
Maz Fotos, WTME Photography & Sarah Daye.

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